Triathlon: Medal success put down to build-up

1.00pm - By DANIEL GILHOOLY

The massive improvement from the disastrous Sydney Olympics showing four years ago lies with the Triathlon New Zealand High Performance programme, say medal-winning athletes Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty.

Both agreed the build-up to their triumphant Games double at the Vouliagmeni course was faultless.

The national body allowed them to plan their campaign from far out and without impediment.

High Performance manager Mark Elliot, also Docherty's coach, appreciated the acknowledgement from the pair, reflecting on a result which all those involved in their preparation would hold dear.

"It's been a phenomenal day, just stunning. It doesn't get any better than this," Elliot told NZPA.

He said the knowledge base and management structure of the sport altered radically in 2001, one year after the substandard performances at Sydney.

That day no New Zealander placed in the top 15, with Craig Watson 16th, Carter 26th and Ben Bright 38th.

"You have to know the course inside out and adapt the athletes' training plan for it, not just a couple of weeks out but almost a year away," Elliot said, explaining what they had learned from Sydney.

"It was a huge, huge buildup for the guys before Sydney, no less than this one. But this time everyone knew a little bit more about the sport and how to approach a major event.

"Hamish certainly learned a lot and it showed today."

The High Performance coaching group of 15, overseen by Elliot, was now monitoring the progress of 38 athletes seen as current or potential achievers at elite international level.

A gold medal dangling around his neck, Carter said funding from the national body had allowed him to carry on as a professional athlete and to work fulltime with coach Chris Pilone on creating a winning training programme.

World champion Docherty, who claimed silver, said his rapid rise could be attributed to the national programme.

"They've really set a new standard for us. They've helped us do whatever we want," Docherty said.

"A happy athlete is always going to be a good athlete. The camp we're in is just such a relaxed atmosphere."

Docherty said there were some fantastic juniors among the 38 triathletes on the High Performance programme, including double world junior champion Terenzo Bozzone.

Docherty could envisage his country's depth at the top level continuing for some time yet.

There were currently six New Zealand men ranked in the world's top 30, more than any other nation.

"One year there were seven guys ranked in the top 20," Docherty said.

"That is definitely the result of a lot of guys going overseas and racing for clubs and showing a lot of determination to get to the top."

If Docherty had one wish, it was that a leg of the International Triathlon Union World Cup series be held in New Zealand.

"That would really drive us more," he said.

- NZPA